Haatbaarden, kleuterneukers en een pannetje soep

Abstract

Traditional religious groups are frequently under attack in contemporary society. This paper examines the negative framing found in social media. We look into the frame ‘haatbaard’ (‘hate beard’) for fundamentalist Muslims, ‘kleuterneuker’ (‘child fucker’) for clergy sexual abuse, and ‘pannetje soep’(‘soup pot’) for charity. Using framing theory, the paper shows how diagnostic and motivational framing are used to evoke strong negative responses toward orthodox religious groups. The anti-Muslim frame plays primarily on fear, whereas the anti-Catholic frame plays on anger. After examining these frames, the paper discusses the relation between religion, the state, and the public sphere and concludes by discussing the space for orthodox-religious groups in contemporary society and the frames needed to accommodate that.